Sewing-machine.



-J. VANNBTTB.

SEWING msnm.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 21, 1910. v 998,053. Patented July 18, 1911.

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SEWING MACHINE.

l APPLICATION FILED JULY 21,1910.

Patented July 18,1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JASPER VANNETTE, OF TIFFIN, OHIO.

SEWING-MACHINE.

My invention relates to lock-stitch sewing machines of that class in which both the upper and under thread is taken direct from the ordinary commercial spool of sewing thread, and it has more special reference to improvements on the sewing machine of such class made the subject of Letters Patent No. 875,751, granted to me Jan. 7, 1908.

In the machine of my aforesaid patent, a spool-case is provided for containing the spool carryingthe under-thread supply, and associated therewith are means for holding spools of different sizes within the case without undue endwise movement therein other than enough to permit of the passage of the needle-thread loop between the spool and its engaging parts. This means comprises a movable end wall for the spool-case which is adjustable relatively to an opposing end wall to Vary the spool-receiving space therebetween, and an additional means for automatically spacing the said end walls relatively to different sizes of spools inserted into the spool-case to provide in every instance the same predetermined threadclearance space between the parts. This means for spacing the end walls of the spool-case includes an operating lever therefor, indicated atr 42 in the drawing of my aforesaid patent, which is arranged at the under side of the bed-plate in a position necessitating the operator reaching beneath the bed-plate to effect its manipulation; and to reach the said lever at such point it is necessary, according to t-he character of the stand or cabinet on which the machine is mounted, to either tilt the machine backward to expose its under side or else reach beneath the platform on which the machine is mounted.

Because of such inconvenient location of the said operating lever in the machine of my prior patent, it has been one of the objects of my'present invention to provide an improved operating means for effecting the spacing or adjusting of the end walls of the spool-case which may be 4operated from the upper' side of the sewing machine bedplate.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 21, 1910.

Patented July 18, 1911. serial No. 572,995.

To this end my invention consists in providing an improved operating device for said end-wall spacing or adjusting means constructed and arranged to be operated from the upper side of the bed-plate, preferably through an opening in the latter.

In adjusting the spool within its case in the machine of my said prior patent, the spool is first entered into the case and secured therein by a latch device constituting one of the end-walls of the case. Thereafter the adjustment or spacing of the endwalls is effected to provide the necessary threadclearance space, hereinbefore referred to. It sometimes happens, however, that the operator neglects to perform this spacing operation, with the result that upon the starting of the machine the needlethread loop will be prevented from being carried about the spool-case and will therefore be caused to break.

T o provide means for guarding against neglect to perform such end wall spacing operation has therefore been a further object of my present invention.

To such end, the invention consists in so constructing and arranging the said operating device for the end wall spacing means that it will be movable to a position in the path of movement of the sewing machine slide-plate subsequent to the opening of the latter preparatory to the removal of the spool from its case, and in such position prevent closing of said slide plate until subsequent to the device being operated to adjust the end wall spacing means and provide the necessary thread-clearance space, by which operation the device is moved from its said position in the path of movement of the slide-plate.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which I have shown only so much of a sewing machine as is necessary to illustrate my 1nvent1on,-Figure 1 is a top plan of the front end of a sewing machine bed-plate and its supported under-thread mechanism, embodying my invention, with the slideplate partly closed and engagedv by the operating device of the spool space adjusting means. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same with the bed and slide plates insect-ion on line 2-2 of Eig. 1. Fig. 3 is a corresponding view with the space adjusting means operated to provide thread-clearance space and the slide-plate closed. Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevation looking from the right in Fig. l, with the bed and slide plates in section on line emilof Fig. l. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional detail views of the spool-case and its associated parts, sh the operation ot the parts in etfecting adjustment oi. the end walls of the spool-case relatively to an inserted spool, and correspending to the position oi' the corresponding parts shown by full and dotted lines in Figs. and 3 respectively.

Similar reference characters designate like parts in the several iigures of the drawings.

As hereinbefore stated, the spool-case and its associated parts, to which my present invention is applied, are substantially the same as those disclosed in my prior Patent Xo. 875,751, and therefore the description of the same will be substantially the same as that ot the like parts contained in said patent. to which reference may be had.

The bed-plate ot' the machine, indicated at l, is provided with the usual opening 2 through which the under-thread carrying spool may be passed in being entered into or withdrawn from the spool case at the under side of the bed-plate. ln addition to said openingY 2, the bed-plate is also provided in the present case with a second opening 3, to permit ol the operation therethrough oft the operating device tor the spool space adjusting means to be hereinafter descril'ied. Both oi said openings 2 and 3 are closed by a suitably formed slide-plate .4f operating in guide-ways in the bed-plate in usual. manner.

The spool-case 7 at the under side of the bed-plate is oi5 substantially cylindrical form to loosely contain a commercial spool s of sewing thread, and is supported by a sliding connection at its exterior side with a reeiprocatory frame 8 which in turn is supported by a sliding connection with the bedplate.

The spool-case driver comprises heel and toe portions 2S and 29 for engaging respectively with the rear and iront ends of the spool-case and being connected by an intermediate portion 30 arranged at the under side oit' the spool-case. The driver as thus formed is provided with an arm or eXtension 3l at the upper end of its heel portion 28 ior connection with the driver actuating means. The toe portion 29 ot the said driver is shown as having' a pivotal connection 33 with the lower driver portion 30, whereby it may be moved from its normal position opposite the open front end of the spool-case to permit or either the insertion of a spool into said case or its removal therefrom; the said toe 29 serving, when in its normal operative position opposite the open end ot the spool-case, as a latch for removably retaining the spool within said case.

In order to prevent undue endwise movement of a spool within the spool-case, for

reasons fully given in my aforesaid patent, I locate at the inner end of the spool-case an adjustable wall, 34e which, together with the driver arm or latch 29 at the liront end of the case, term the end walls ot the spool,- case between which the spool is loosely held. The said adjustable wall 3st is provided by the frontI end oit a plate b5 which is slidably supported by the spool-driver at its rear end to be movable therewith and arranged with its said front end r3-it extending centrally into the open rear end ot' the spool-case through a suitable slot in the driver heel 2S; the means for so supporting the plate 35 comprising an arm 36 lixedly held to the rear end of the driver and engaging the plate 55 within an elongated slot. 37 therein. A spring 38 connecting at one end with the driver and at its opposite end with the plate operates to yieldingly hold the latter in a normal position with its front end wall 34 sufficiently far advanced into the spoolcase as to render the spool-receiving space between it and the opposite end wall 2) small enough to closely receive a spool of minimum size. and permit said wall 3l to yield against the pressure of an inserted. spool to adapt the spool-receiving space to any size of spool ranging between a minimum and maximum size.

To insert a spool into the spool-ease, the latch 2S) constituting the front end wall of the spool-case is swung laterally aside to open the spool-case7 a'liter which a spool is inserted into the case and moved against the pressure of the yielding wall 1l-'l until it is suliieiently tar inserted to permit closing oi the end wall latch 29. lilhen a spool is thus inserted into its case, however7 it is yieldingly held with its ends in engagement with the opposite end walls 3l, Q9, oit the sliool-ease, while it is desirable that sutticient space be provided between the spool and the adjacent end walls of the case to permit of the ready passage of the needlethread loop therebetween without undue friction on the thread. .For this reason I provide a means that is operative subsequent to the entry of a spool into the case for moving the adjustable wall 31|- a predetermined distance in a direction to increase the spool-receiving space between it and the opposite end wall whereby the desired thread-passage or thread-clearance space between said walls and the spool will be provided. The said means for so moving the adjustable wall 3-1- comprises a lever 112 tulcrumed on a pivot stud 42 carried by a bracket extension 43 of the spool-case driver (see Figs. 2 and 8), and having` a dog 44 for engagement with a series oiE teeth t5 located on the lower wall of an elongated opening' in the adjustable wall-plate lVith this combination and arrangement of parts, when the lever 4t2 is swung forward at its lower end in a direction toward the spool-case, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the dog 44 will be released from engagement with the teeth 45 of the plate 35 and the latter will be free to be moved either forward under the action of the spring 38, or backward under the pressure of an inserted spool. IVith the wall plate 35thus released from locking engagement .with the lever 42 and in its forwardly projected position under the action of the spring 38, when a spool is inserted into the spool-case it will be engaged at its opposite ends-by end walls of the spool-case in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 5. To now provide the desired thread-clearance space between the spool and the adjacent end walls of the spool-case, the lever 42 is swung backward from its said plate-releasing position and causes its dog 44 to engage the adjacent tooth on the wall plate 35 and move the latter backward a predetermined distance to increase the spool-receiving space between the end walls of the spool-case for the purpose stated and as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. As a means to latch the lever 42 in either of its described wall-plate releasing or locking positions, the lever is provided with a latch-pin 51 adapted to engage the bracket 43 within suitably positioned notches 53, 53, therein, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 respectively; the said latch-pin 51 being carried by a springpressed block 50 slidably mounted in the lever 42 and operative to snap the latch-pin into either of the notches 53, 53, when brought to a position opposite the same.

Then it is desired to remove the spool from its case for any purpose, the front end wall or latch 29 is first swung laterally from its position opposite the front end of the case and the lever 42 is then swung forward to release the wall-plate 35, whereupon the latter will be projected forward into the case under the action of the spring 38 and operate to eject the spool from the case; the said plate 35 thus serving both as an adjust-able end wall for the spool-case and also as an automatic spool-ejector.

In accordance with my present invention as hereinbefore indicated, provision is made whereby the desired spoo-l-case end wall spacing or adjusting means may be operated from the upper side of the bed-plate, and this is made in the present case by providing the lever 42 with an operating device or handle 55 which extends at its free or operating end to a position adjacent to the opening 3 in the bed-plate through which it may be conveniently reached and operated from the upper side of the bed-plate as will be obvious upon reference to the drawings.

lVhen aspool is to be removed from its case, the operator opens the slide-plate 4 in order to have access to the spool-case at the under side of the .bed-plate and effect the removal of the spool therefrom in the manner hereinbefore described. In effecting such removal of the spool, the upper end of the operating device 55 is moved to a position in the path of the slide-plate, as shown in Figs. l and 2, where it prevents closing of said slide-plate prior to the device being operated to effect an increase of the spoolreceiving space and provide thread clearance,` which operation of the device moves its upper end below t-hevpath of movement. of the slide-plate and permit-s closing of the latter, as shown in Fig. 3. In this way, the proper adjustment of the spool-case wall is made necessary before closing of the slide-plate.

What I claim is l. In a sewing machine, the combination with the bed-plate, of a spool-case located beneath said bed-plate, end walls for' said case one of which is adjustable relatively to the other in a direction to vary the spoolreceiving space therebetween, means operative subsequent to the entry of a spool into the case for moving said adjustable wall a predetermined distance in a direction to increase the said spool-receiving space between it and the opposite end wall, and an operating device for said means having a handle portion projecting upwardly to a position adjacent to the b-ed-plate whereby it may b-e operated from the upper side of the latter.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with the bed-plate having an opening therein, of a spool-case located beneath said bedplate, end walls for said case one of which is adjustable relatively to the other in a direction to vary the spool-receiving space therebetween, means operative subsequent to the entry of a spool into the case for moving said adjustable wall a predetermined distance in a direction to increase the said spool-receiving space between it and the opposite end wall, and anoperating device for said means located in position adjacent to said opening in the bed-plate to be operated therethrough from the upper side of the bed-plate.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with the bed-plate having an opening therein and a slide-plate for closing said opening, of a spool-case located beneath said bedplate, end walls for said case one of which is adjustable relatively to the other in a direction to vary the spool-receiving space therebetween, means operative subsequent to the entry of a spool into the case for moving said adjustable wall a predetermined distance in a direction to increase the said spool-receiving space between it and the opposite end wall, and an operating device for said means movable to and from a position in the path of movement of the slide-plate and being adapted to project int-o the path ot movement ot said slide-plate to prevent closing ot' the latter prior to the device being operated to e'tlect an increase of said spool-receiving space.

el. fl'n a sewing machine, the combination with the bed-plate having a spool opening therein and a slide-plate for closing said opening, oi a spool-case located beneath said bed-plate, end walls tor said case one of which is adjustable relatively to the other in a direction to vary the spool-receiving space therebetween, and means operative subsequent to the entry ot a spool into the case for moving said adjustable wall a predetermined distance in a direction to increase the said spool.-receiving` space between it and the opposite end wall, said mains embodying an operating lever movable to and trom a position in the path ot' movement of the slide-plate and being arranged to project into the path of movement oi.i said slide-plate to prevent closing ot the latter prior to the lever heilig operat-ed to etlect an increase ot said spool-receiving space.

5. ln a sewing machine, the combination with the bed-plate having a spool opening therein and a slide-plate tor closing said opening, ot a spool-case located beneath said bed-plate, end walls tor said case one of which is adjustable relatively to the other in a direction to vary the spool-receiving space therebetween, means iter adjusting the position ot' said adjustable wall, and an operating device itor said adjusting means movable to and from a position in the path ot movement of the slide-plate and being adapted to project into the path ot movement of said slide-plate to prevent closing ot the latter prior to the device being operated to eitect space increasingl adjustment of said adjustable wall.

(i. in a sewing machine, the combination with the bed-plate having an opening therein and a slide-plate ttor closing said opening, of a spool-case located beneath said. bedplate, end walls tor said case one ot which is adjustable relatively to the other in a direction to vary the spool-receiving space therebetween, and adjusting means tor said adjustable end wall movable to and troni a position in the path of movement ot the slide-plate and being adapted to project into the path oit' moven'ient of said slide-plate to prevent closing of the lat-ter prior to the adjusting' means being operated to adjust the said spool-receiving space.

Signed at New York, in. the county of New York, and State of New York, this 15th day ot' July, A. D. 1910.

JASPER VANNETTE. lVitnesses l. M. Cassinv, CHAS. F. DANE.

Copies of this patent :may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

